Biarritz Olympique have set the cat amongst the pigeons by announcing that they have signed Sharks prop Eugene van Staden as a replacement for compatriot Eduard Coetzee, forced to announce his retirement earlier in the week on medical grounds.

We reported a few weeks back that van Staden had agreed to join Biarritz on a temporary basis during the South African off-season, but that he would be back in Sharks colours ahead of next season’s Super Rugby competition. A tweet from the player himself a few days later seemed to confirm this, when he indicated he was going “to help Biarritz out for a couple of games”.

The wording of the French announcement, though – issued via AFP and picked up by many websites in South Africa – makes it sound as though van Staden has signed on with Biarritz as a permanent replacement for Coetzee, rather than as a short-term “medical joker”. Apparently the fact that Coetzee has retired outright changes the French regulations somewhat, meaning that his replacement can come in as an additional contracted player.

We are trying to get hold of Eugene to get a final answer, which is proving tricky because he may already be in France, as Biarritz would like to field him against Saracens this weekend. There is, of course, no word from the Sharks themselves as to whether they expect van Staden back, or if he has been released from the remainder of his contract, which runs until the end of 2012.

We’ll have more on this story as soon as we can find out what is really going on. For the time being, though, sources close to the French rugby scene suggest that van Staden will stay with Biarritz at least unti the end of the French season, ruling him out of the Sharks’ Super Rugby campaign.

If he is leaving for good, something is seriously rotten at the Sharks… the exodus of players continues unabated… Van Staden, Mostert, Rhodes, Cilliers, Sykes, Muller, Pienaar, Steyn, Murray, Strauss, Barrit, etc only to be replaced by sub standard “no way in hell are they good enough to collectively win the S15″ players Joubert, Ludik, Bosman, Potgieter, Skeate, Hoffman, etc.

Big fall from the 90s when the Sharks were leaders and had the pick of the crop.

If it’s only a temporary move, how can it be in the Sharks interest for Van Staden to play more rugby in Europe instead of conditioning/resting (whatever they do) before the S15 in February next year?

If players are going to start going off on these “off season” jaunts to Japan and Europe, they will pretty soon be estopped from relying on the old “too tired from too much rugby” excuse that we hear a lot these days…

There’s already too much rugby (as a fan I’m feeling it). The new S15 is just too much… can’t imagine how the players feel and now they throw a few extra games on top by choice? Madness everywhere else but the pocket.

Comment 3, posted at 16.11.11 10:42:20 by siorc

So if we take it as Eugene is gone which is quite possible, then who is left…Beast,Jannie,Herbst,Chadwick,Redelinghuis,Schonert….I wonder what the pecking order will be next year?

van Staden is the perfect bench prop because he’s probably the best at playing both sides of the scrum.

He will be missed!

Comment 8, posted at 16.11.11 10:51:09 by Pokkel

@siorc (Comment 3) : Have to say that I agree with you. I LOVE rugby, but this year I’ve really felt some rugby fatigue. The not-so-SupeRugby went on forever and then when that finished I couldn’t quite get the excitement going for our understrength Tri-Nations and while I was interested in the RWC, my excitement was nowhere near where it was in the past.

No next year SupeRugby goes for even longer (whoopee) and we now have the Rugby Championship (yay). At least, there isn’t a world cup. I’m actually wishing we could just get some tours.

Nobody that I know of. I’m probably not the best person to ask, but definitely none of the other 4 in the top 5 (being Beast, Jannie, Dale & Wiehahn).

Versatility in the front-row isn’t given enough attention. Some guys have the tools to be playing both sides but have never tried it.

One I’ve been thinking of for a while is… The Cheetahs should use Coenie Oosthuizen as their reserve hooker. Playing anywhere in the front-row would give us a huge advantage at Springbok level.

Comment 13, posted at 16.11.11 10:59:57 by hendrikp

@Pokkel (Comment 11) : @hendrikp (Comment 13) : Which makes for an interesting question; what are the physical attributes and skills/qualities that a person would have to develop to be succesful on both sides of the scrum?

At this stage, I’d think it would be easier for a tighthead with extra power to play loosehead.

Tighthead I always think of more as like an anchor, with the loosehead being the engine.

Most already playing on the correct side. Also nowadays you expect your loosehead to have a higher workrate, whereas a tighthead can still get away with a couple of ball-carries and a handful of tackles per game.

Comment 16, posted at 16.11.11 11:21:32 by hendrikp

Chadwick is also fine at 3, while jannie is more than capable at 1 as well.